All posts by z3u9t.icu

Glasgow Rangers’ Jake Hastie is attracting interest from Motherwell, who want to take him on loan next season, according to The Scottish Sun.

The 22-year-old spent the previous season on loan at Rotherham but, after he struggled for game-time in League One, the ‘Gers took him back to Ibrox early.

Motherwell are now said to be in pursuit of the winger and are interested in signing him on a short-term basis for the 2020/21 term, as per The Scottish Sun.

It was actually at Motherwell where the winger burst on to the scene during the 2018/19 season, scoring seven goals in 18 games in all competitions. However, despite netting in each of his first three games with Rotherham last term, he has failed to consolidate the hype surrounding him.

At 22 years of age, this is surely his last chance to prove to everyone at Ibrox that he has what it takes to play for them in the future – he has appeared just twice for the club so far. If he does not impress in the coming season, then it will surely be hard for the ‘Gers to justify keeping him.

‘Gers fans, do you think Hastie has any future at Ibrox? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Leeds United may have found themselves a perfect alternative to Ben White amid reports emerging from South America.

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercato, the Yorkshire giants are one of several teams holding an interest in River Plate centre-back Lucas Martinez Quarta and that he could be available for just €15m (£13.5m).

The story has taken on a new twist after the player’s agent confirmed to TyC Sports that teams from England, Spain, Italy and France have held discussions over a potential move, although Leeds’ name wasn’t mentioned, it’s certainly an interesting hint.

It’s further claimed that as little as €12m (£10.5m) could be enough to tempt the Argentian outfit into a sale.

Ben White alternative

Marcelo Bielsa is certainly going to need a centre-back or two this summer as currently, the only senior option going into next season is skipper Liam Cooper, who himself hasn’t featured in the top-flight in a decade.

Ben White is set to return to his parent club Brighton with no real confirmation surrounding his long-term future on the south coast whilst Gaetano Berardi is out with an ACL tear until April 2021, although he’s out-of-contract at Elland Road anyway.

Quarta, on the face of it, looks a shrewd move – per WhoScored, the 24-year-old international has averaged 3.6 clearances, 1.8 tackles and 0.9 shots per game.

This is above the numbers that the impressive fan-favourite White put up in west Yorkshire. Therefore, it would certainly seem like Bielsa has the perfect second option if he’s unable to secure the young English talent for their PL bow.

At just £10.5m, it could be an absolute steal with Brighton likely wanting in excess of £35m for his services amid interest from the top-flight champions, Liverpool.

AND in other news, Leeds can resolve huge Bielsa headache if Orta lands £15m target…

Liverpool are conducting their business early this summer and now new left-back Kostas Tsimikas is through the door, it’s time for further additions up the pitch.

What’s the word?

According to Yahoo Esportes, the Premier League champions have made contact with Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama over a potential move for young forward Talles Magno.

The 18-year-old is hot property across Europe with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Sevilla also mooted with interest.

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail expand on this story and claim that due to the club’s difficult financial situation, Vasco could be open into telling their prized asset for just £18m despite having a £45m release clause.

Firmino mould

This would be quite the bargain for the Reds if they are able to do a deal for the enigmatic teenager.

Magno was part of Brazil’s U17 World Cup-winning squad and was named in the Guardian’s top 60 talents to watch in 2019, where they labelled him a ‘breath of fresh air’ who is ‘utterly unafraid to use his skills’ to take on opponents.

He’s even been likened to Neymar as a result, but interestingly, it’s the comparison to Merseyside nemesis Richarlison which hints at a suitability to Jurgen Klopp’s system at Anfield.

The 6 foot 1 forward can play centrally or out wide and is known for his dribbling ability and showboating – he’d surely be right at home in Merseyside given the current Brazilian contingent at the club.

Magno is very much a similar build to Roberto Firimino and if you were to blend Neymar with Richarlison, then the apple wouldn’t fall too far away from being a match to Liverpool’s current number nine.

Which could be why Klopp is keen to bolster his attacking ranks with a player could fit in instantly and become the perfect understudy to the underrated 28-year-old.

He very much appears to be a special talent, one that Liverpool should be gagging to sign.

AND in other news, 6-foot La Liga colossus would be a bargain replacement for Dejan Lovren…

Plenty of Liverpool fans have been reacting to transfer reports claiming that Marko Grujic could be sold this summer.

German media outlet Bild claimed that Hertha Berlin, to whom the midfielder has been on loan for the last two years, want to sign him on a permanent deal, with Jurgen Klopp set to decide on the player’s Anfield future during the Reds’ pre-season training camp in Austria. The news was subsequently shared on Twitter by @AnfieldEdition.

Grujic, who is valued at £13.05m by TransferMarkt, was Klopp’s first signing as Liverpool manager back in 2016 but has been unable to establish himself on Merseyside, making just 14 appearances for the club and being loaned out to Cardiff and Hertha Berlin (twice).

In responding to reports of the Bundesliga club’s desire for a permanent deal, many Reds supporters are in favour of that happening, given the plethora of midfield options at Klopp’s disposal, while some feel that selling the 24-year-old could help to bankroll the potential signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich, with the Spain international reportedly keen on moving to Anfield.

Check out some of the Twitter responses from Liverpool fans below:

Liverpool fans, would you be in favour of selling Grujic if it meant being able to get the Thiago deal over the line? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

A number of Liverpool fans hit out at Ronald Koeman after reports emerged that he told Georginio Wijnaldum not to sign a new deal at Anfield.

The Dutch midfielder is into the final 12 months of his Reds contract with no sign of him extending his deal and The Independent reporting this week that he could be open to a move elsewhere.

Dutch media outlet AD claimed this week [via Daily Mail] that Wijnaldum’s former international manager Koeman, who has just been appointed head coach at Barcelona, has told the 29-year-old not to sign a contract extension at Anfield, with the midfielder seemingly high on the manager’s wish-list.

In four years at Liverpool,ÂWijnaldum has scored 19 goals in 186 games, including two against Barcelona in the epic 4-0 Champions League semi-final win last year. Koeman has previously managed the Reds’ local rivals Everton, who sacked him in October 2017 with the Toffees in the relegation zone after 16 months in the job (as per BBC).

Barcelona have already dismissed two managers this year, sacking Ernesto Valverde in January and giving Quique Setien the boot last week after their 8-2 Champions League drubbing by Bayern Munich.

These Liverpool fans on Twitter slammed Koeman for his apparent interference in Wijnaldum’s Anfield future, with one Kopite calling him a “one and done coach” in what seems a dig at his lack of longevity in any one role – Barcelona is his 11th job as a manager:

Liverpool fans, were you angered by Koeman’s reported message to Wijnaldum? Have your say by commenting below!

Chelsea have finally put an end to the ongoing Kai Havertz saga after landing their long-awaited midfield target. 

The Blues secured a deal for the Germany international after months of talks and speculation. Havertz signed a five year deal after Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen agreed on a mouth-watering £71m transfer fee (via BBC Sport).

However, an update from The Athletic has recently brought to light a last gasp attempt from Manchester United to sway the 21-year-old away from west London.

The report (relayed via football.london) claims that the Red Devils sent a presentation to Havertz and his agent, outlining how the playmaker would fit in at Old Trafford.

United were previously in the running for the £71m man but, similar to Liverpool, they withdrew due to his asking price being too high (as per The Athletic).

Towards the end of last season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were battling Chelsea and Leicester for a top four finish. The duo knocked the Foxes out of a Champions League spot but will likely be going toe-to-toe once again in 2020/21.

Chelsea have almost rounded off the perfect summer transfer window. Alongside veteran Thiago Silva, the Blues have also added younger talents Ben Chilwell and Timo Werner to their ranks.

Landing a deal for Havertz will be a welcome development for Frank Lampard, who is building a very exciting team. The revelation that he managed to snub major Premier League rivals Manchester United will also come as an extra boost, knowing the German preferred the west Londoners to the Manchester side.

How do you feel about this Havertz update, Blues? Join the conversation in the comments below!

There aren’t many Newcastle United players that can cover themselves in glory after they were utterly dominated by Brighton on Sunday, but as you’d expect, some players received more blame than others.One man who bore the brunt of the angry mob on social media was Allan Saint-Maximin, and as much as we hate to say it, we can understand why.The Frenchman only played for just over half an hour before being dragged off with an injury, but in that short space of time, he put in one of the worst performances you’re likely to see all season.He provided very little defensive cover for Jamal Lewis who had to deal with the electric Tariq Lamptey, and the one time he did step in to help out at the back, he ended up giving away a penalty.Fans were quick to complain about his defensive contribution during the match…

However, it wasn’t just his defensive contribution that had fans furious.

Some believed that the 23-year-old didn’t have the right mindset heading into the game, with numerous claims that his head wasn’t in the match or that he wasn’t up to the fight, especially after Newcastle found themselves 2-0 down after 10 minutes.

Inevitably, you had a select few fans who claimed that he was feigning injury to get himself out of the firing line after a poor showing, and while we don’t necessarily believe that to be the case, the fact that some fans were so quick to point towards that as a possible explanation, shows just how poor his showing was.

We can only hope that the winger is back to his best sooner rather than later, because his cameo on Sunday was nothing short of dreadful.

One thing the international period is excellent for is showcasing some of the finest young talents the world has to offer. A man who has taken this opportunity to bank some important goals for his country is Wolverhampton’s Pedro Neto.

The 20-year-old winger had a superb performance for Portugal U21s in their 4-1 win against Norway in their latest youth Euro qualifier. Not only did Neto get himself on the scoresheet with a well-taken brace, but he set up domestic teammate Vitinha for his goal as well (via Sofascore).

Neto’s message to Nuno

Wolves will be looking to build on their seventh-place finish from last season, after they missed out on top six by goal difference. Nuno Espirito Santo will need to deploy his side’s best attack and that undoubtedly involves Neto, who will serve up influential performances alongside Raul Jimenez.

The winger now has an impressive two-goal return in just three Portugal U21 appearances, which should be giving the Wolves boss something to think about. On top of that, he has already bagged a Premier League goal and assist this season. Neto was the difference in their most recent match against Fulham, scoring the winner in the second half. His versatility is another asset the Wanderers have been utilising, playing him both on the wing and in midfield this campaign (via Transfermarkt).

Whilst Nuno is already a fan of the youngster, Neto is ensuring he isn’t overlooked even for a second this season. The 20-year-old started just eight of his 29 Premier League appearances last term which is something that must change this time round. If Wolves don’t hand Neto a bigger role in the club, he could be tempted by a move elsewhere.

TodoFichajes (via TEAMtalk) reported that Arsenal were keen on the Portuguese attacker earlier this month and were willing to spend €50million (£44.5m) on luring him to north London. However, it seems Nuno is already putting his thoughts into actions as Neto has started every Premier League game so far this season.

In other news, Wolves must tie Conor Coady down after England display puts him on radar…

Wolves pulled off a great deal when offloading Benik Afobe for a reported £12million back in January last year. The Wanderers initially signed the London-born striker in 2015, but it seemed he wasn’t quite cutting the mustard at Molineux.

It’s a strange subject as in fact, Afobe wasn’t exactly shy in front of goal and made an immediate impact after joining from Arsenal’s youth side. In just half a season, the forward started every single Championship match for Wolves at the back-end of the 2014/15 season. In 21 appearances, Afobe tallied an impressive 13 goals and five assists (via Transfermarkt).

What went wrong for Afobe?

Despite a promising opening campaign under Kenny Jackett, the DR Congo international was sold to Bournemouth just a year later. But for poor Afobe, the two clubs would simply pass him back and forth over the span of two years.

The Wanderers pocketed £11.9million for the initial sale, before re-signing him in the summer of 2018 following short loan spell that started in the January. However, he wasn’t bought to help bolster the team’s ranks, as he was loaned back out from Molineux the very next day.

Loan side Stoke City eventually bought Afobe, paying Wolves the £12million for his services. In the small window Wolves welcomed their striker back, he was clearly trying to make an impression in hopes that this time, under new management, he would be given a chance. But despite netting six times in 16 games, he was moved on once again.

There was something that clearly didn’t catch the eye of the Wolves board whilst Afobe was on their books. Unfortunately for him, it resulted in a confusing few years of being passed to and from different clubs where he never really settled. Even after his move to Stoke, it wasn’t long before he was being sent out on loan again – once to Bristol City and most recently to Trabzonspor.

Whilst it may have cost a lot of lost morale for the player, the club’s eye for a profit is certainly not one you can knock, especially considering that he is now worth just £5.4m.

In other news, Adama Traore shows exactly why Wolves want to tie him down in recent Spain display…

Fulham needed to get players off their books on deadline day, and they’ve managed to do just that as Anthony Knockaert has joined Nottingham Forest on loan until January, with the Midlands club holding an option to buy him in winter.

This move is somewhat perplexing, Fulham have only just spent over £10m on the winger back in July, but here we are in October and he’s already been moved on.

To be fair, Knockaert didn’t seem to be in Scott Parker’s plans this season, failing to make a single appearance in the Premier League so far this term.

However, the question remains, why did Fulham bother purchasing him in the first place?

Tony Khan’s comments when Fulham announced his permanent signing make it seem as though he thought he was a player who could help the club for years to come, but just 98 days later he’s no longer with the club, and if with the Reds having the choice to make that loan permanent, he may never play for Fulham again.

“I’m pleased to announce that we’ve exercised our option to convert Anthony Knockaert’s loan agreement to a permanent, and now Anthony will be with us at Fulham for the future!” Khan said.

“Anthony has become important to our squad since his arrival. Our loan deal with Brighton expired this month, and exercising our option ensures that Anthony will be with us for the remainder of our push for promotion this season and beyond!”

Unfortunately, ‘this season and beyond’ actually meant a handful of appearances at the end of the 2019/20 campaign and three games in the Carabao Cup this season. Of course, he could force his way back into the side in January, but the likelihood of that is slim considering he’s not appeared once in the league this term.

Getting rid of any player you’ve signed just three months after his arrival is going to be seen as a dodgy decision, but it’s made that much worse when Khan’s comments talk about how much he will help in the future.

It’s yet another black mark against the Fulham Director of Football’s record, and another indicator that he may just be making it all up as he goes along, just as we said when he betrayed his transfer vow about developing others’ players earlier this month.